How will world No 1 Luke Littler react to the Berlin boos on Night Eight of the Premier League? Sky Sports’ Mark Webster says “you can’t be everyone’s favourite”.
The 19-year-old has previously threatened not to play events in Germany after being jeered by the crowd in a number of recent competitions.
He returned to the country at the World Cup of Darts last June, appearing alongside rival Luke Humphries, but the England dream team lost to Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko in the last 16.
Littler also took part in the European Championship in Dortmund, where he was beaten by James Wade.
The Warrington phenom first threatened to boycott events in the country when he was knocked out of the German Darts Grand Prix by Gian van Veen in the semi-finals last April.
“I had a little head loss moment, as some of us players do,” he said afterwards. “I just don’t get it, and I can’t explain it. Obviously, you do your walk-on, but then as soon as I got on stage, I started getting booed.”
He added: “I got booed in Hildesheim last year against Peter Wright on the European Tour. I was flying and then they started booing me and I lost.’
“Obviously, the Germans mustn’t like us English.”
Speaking on Love The Darts Podcast, former Lakeside world champion Webster spoke about Littler’s return to Germany.
“He’s made it vocal he doesn’t like playing in Germany,” said Webster. “This is obviously a forced one he has to go to along with the European Championship.
“It will be interesting to see if he plays the World Cup as well – I think he will!
“He knows how to use the crowd to fire himself up but he’ll love to put in a performance and get a third nightly win in front of a crowd where he generally gets a few jeers.
“It’s part and parcel of the sport, isn’t it? You can’t be everyone’s favourite and he certainly not a favourite in Germany.”
What’s happening on Premier League Night Eight in Berlin?
Night Eight of the BetMGM Premier League will take place in Berlin on Thursday March 26, as Littler begins his bid for a third nightly victory of 2026 against Stephen Bunting at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
League leader Jonny Clayton will take on Josh Rock in the evening’s opener, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen also go head-to-head, while Gerwyn Price takes on Van Veen for a place in the semi-finals.
Quarter-Final fixtures for 14 of the 16 league nights are in draw bracket order, with fixtures for Night Eight and Night 16 determined by league standings heading into each night.
Who will win this year’s Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will be defending his title and you can watch the action every single Thursday until May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
